Very, very new. How often and how do you change the water?

[mizmichelle73]

I got my son the 2.5 gallon Minibow for Christmas. We went with 1 male betta and a live plant. We are using the Tetra Whisper filter that came with the tank. He's been in since the day after Christmas and is doing great so far. Building bubble nests and eating well.

I just don't know when I should clean the tank, change the water or how. Do I take him out and dump it all out and start fresh? How often?

Thanks so much, I know this is a pretty basic question.
Michelle

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

A 2.5 gal should be done about every 4 days or so.......You will need a small gravel vac to clean the gravel thoroughly also...Do a 100 percent change and leave the filter alone. It is growing beneficial bacteria that will be necessary to keep your water free of toxic ammonia and nitrites...Be careful that the flow is not too strong for Mr. Betta...A little goes along way with those guys...

[gman52]

a weekly water change should be fine. u should do between 25-50 percent. i wouldnt do more than 50%. on my old betta tank i did weekly 25 percent water changes.

[OrionGirl]

I agree with MQP--the smaller tanks do best with larger changes, since any toxins can build up very fast in the small water volume. I prefer to do 2 50% changes back to back, since this way you don't have to remove the fish (stressful!). You end up removing less than 100%, but it's easier on the fish and on you.

[mizmichelle73]

Yikes! Looks like I'm a bit behind. I know Walmart has a mini gravel vac, so I can pick one of those up tonight and get going on changing out the water. I think I'll do the back to back 50% change, so I don't have to remove fishy from his tank.

Also, I am keeping his filter on low flow, he seems to be doing fine with that.
I've found a lot of info on this board, it's a huge help. Thanks again!
Michelle

[daveedka]

Might want to study a bit about cycling a tank. since everything is new.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64301

Water changes are easy enough in a tank that small, So always remember it is safer to err on the side of caution with water changes. Too many is hard to achieve.
Dave